Headlines

Preview: Stars at Red Wings

Tomas Jurco to make season debut for Detroit; Dallas aiming for more success in overtime

by
Dave Hogg
/ NHL.com Correspondent

STARS (9-8-6) at RED WINGS (10-10-2)

7:30 p.m. ET; FS-SW, FS-D, NHL.TV

Stars team scope

The Dallas Stars make their final regular-season visit to Joe Louis Arena, following their 4-3 overtime loss against the St. Louis Blues on Monday. Dallas is 1-6 in overtime games this season. "We got a point, and that's a positive, but overtime is killing us right now," Stars captain Jamie Benn said Tuesday. Goaltender Antti Niemi is 6-1-2 with a .940 save percentage in his past nine games against the Detroit Red Wings, but because he played Monday in St. Louis, Kari Lehtonen is likely to start. Lehtonen is 4-6-3 with a 3.38 goals-against average and .884 save percentage this season. Defensemen Dan Hamhuis and Stephen Johns were healthy scratches at St. Louis, and could move back into the lineup. The Stars are 23-41-5 all-time at Detroit.

Red Wings team scope

Red Wings forward Tomas Jurco, who has not played this season because of a back injury, will be in the lineup Tuesday. "I'm excited, because it has been way too long since I've been out there," Jurco said. "I just want to create some speed and make plays." Defenseman Brendan Smith (lower body) and forward Tyler Bertuzzi (ankle) each were placed on injured reserve after Detroit's 2-1 loss against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, each is expected to miss about four weeks. "I can't take any time to worry about how many players we have out right now," coach Jeff Blashill said. "I have to focus on winning games with the 20 guys we have in the lineup."

Status report

Dallas did not conduct a morning skate Tuesday after traveling from St. Louis. … Kronwall returns to the lineup after sitting out the loss against Montreal. "Nik never wants to miss a game, but he knows we have to be careful with his knee," Blashill said. With Smith out, Kronwall will play with Ouellet. … Jurco will play on Detroit's fourth line with Sheahan and Ott, who moves back into the lineup in place of Miller.

Who's hot

Jamie Benn had a goal and two assists against St. Louis and has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past five games. Oleksiak has three goals and an assists in his past four games. … Nielsen has two goals and two assists in his past two games. … Abdelkader has a goal and two assists in his past two games after having one assist in his past seven games.